Odd Fellows Hall
Also known as: Tadmore Light Lodge, IOOF No.6184; 150-0087
Why it's listed
Built in 1905 at 203 Gilbert Street in Blacksburg, this narrow two-story frame hall housed the Tadmore Light Lodge of the Odd Fellows and served the New Town community for decades. The building measures about 20 by 38 feet, rests on a poured concrete foundation, and is clad in white weatherboards under a standing-seam metal roof. It has no ornament and is described as a simple vernacular design shaped by function. Inside, a large first-floor room hosted church suppers, dances and community meetings, while the second-floor meeting room was reserved for lodge members. Original pine floors, plaster walls and beaded board ceilings survive. Its significance rests on its role in Black American ethnic heritage between 1905 and 1955. Today the building is vacant and used for storage, and it shows deterioration, including damage from a truck collision at the northwest corner.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hall is significant under Criterion A for Black American ethnic heritage. It served as a lodge and community social hall at the center of the New Town community from 1905 to 1955. It also retains a high degree of historic integrity, including its original finishes and heavy timber construction.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 05000770, listed July 27, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 203 Gilbert St., Blacksburg |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | July 27, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000770 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905 - 1955 |
| Architectural style | No Style (simple vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and not in use, with some storage. Some structural deterioration exists, including a recent truck collision that shifted the west wall about four inches off the foundation. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 37.23610, -80.42078 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05000770.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7077348
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.